Supply Side Constrains in Production of Pulses in India : Case Study of Lentils

In India, pulses annual production ranges from 11-15 million tons with per hectare of yield of 595 kg. India contributes about 93% of the total global pigeonpea, 68% of chickpea and 32% of lentil production. However India’s rank in productivity is low that is 24th in chickpea, 9th in pigeonpea, 23rd in lentil and 98th in total pulses. Due to the shortage of supply of pulses, the prices of pulse crops increased exorbitantly and per capita consumption reduced. The import of pulse crops increased from 0.38 MT in 1993 to 2.2 MT annually during 2002 (about 16% of domestic consumption). The study estimated the yield gaps in lentil and find out sources of yield gaps. By reducing yield gap, we can double the production of lentil. Controlling diseases (80% increase in income) and followed by improved seed adoption (40% increase in income) are major sources of yield (net return) gaps. In recent years, large tracts of rice fallows are replaced by rice-lentil-cropping system in north India due to introduction of short-duration varieties. There is also a scope for expansion of area under lentil by replacing wheat with lentil in water deficient and resource-poor regions. Availability of lentils can be increased by 7% by reducing post-harvest losses